Scottish Fiddle Clubs and Societies

The Boston Scottish Fiddle Club – Holds monthly workshops on Sundays in Belmont to learn Scottish tunes from top fiddle teachers/performers in the Boston area and beyond. The club also hosts popular monthly sessions on the third Wednesday of each month at the Canadian American Club in Watertown. The Young Fiddlers workshop series meets on various Friday evenings to learn tunes from top musicians in the area. The club’s performing group, the Boston Scottish Fiddle Orchestra, rehearses regularly and performs at various events. The fiddle club welcomes players of all levels and instruments. Website: bsfc.org

DC Area

Potomac Valley Scottish Fiddle Club -Meets usually 2nd Sunday of the month. 2:30 workshop with tunes taught by ear and from written music. Around 5:30 potluck supper. Around 6:30, following dinner, Scottish jam session. Held at various homes and community centers, Metro DC area. Dues $25/year individual. $35/year family includes newsletter, music.Contact: Elke Baker, DirectorBox 236Glenelg MD 21737301-854-916

The Strathspey and Reel Society of New Hampshire -With over 100 members, the group gathers monthly to play music and learn about the rich heritage of the musical traditions of Scotland. Membership is open to musicians of any level, from beginner to expert. The SRSNH holds Gatherings on the last Sunday of the month from September through June. These Gatherings, held in New Hampshire’s capital city of Concord, run from 12:30-4:00 p.m. The group performs several times each year at events as varied as the New Hampshire Highland Games to an afternoon concert at a local nursing home. The SRSNH offers scholarships to its members for attendance at music workshops, camps, and festivals.Contact: Sylvia Miskoe, Music Director

New Jersey

Jersey Jam -Meets about once a month in Central New Jersey on Saturdays 3 pm until 7 pm with a tea break, followed by a pot-luck dinner, to play from collections of Scottish Fiddle music from Barbara McOwen, Elke Baker, Liz Donaldson and others. All instruments are welcome.For dates and directions contact Lorraine Jackson. (last updated 2/9/09)Contact : Lorraine Jackson (609)936-0891

New York (Southern Tier)

The Bonnie Loch Fiddle Club - under the direction of Sue Tillotson is open to all ages and levels. The club meets one Saturday a month in Lakewood NY, (near Jamestown) to learn new tunes. To find out more about the club and the schedule, see The Bonnie Loch Fiddle Club on Facebook or contact Sue Tillotson, (716) 397-9696.

Scottish Fiddle Club of Raleigh, NC -We are a community-based group that gets together to share some Scottish Fiddle music. We welcome beginners to Scottish Fiddling. All instruments are welcome. We have anywhere from 7-10 fiddles, 2 or 3 cellos, and a myriad of other instruments attend each month, and our group is growing! We meet at my house on the 2nd Monday of the monthat 7:30 pm and go until... A typical monthly meeting will follow a format of learning a tune by ear, take a short break, then read through some predetermined music, slowly at first, and gradually increase the tempo. An open jam session of Scottish tunes can follow. Our goal is to build a common repertoire of tunes that we can share. Directions: Send an Email for directions. Contact: Blaine NiermanWeb Site: http://groups.google.com/group/raleighscotscom

Triad Scottish Fiddlers and Friends, Winston-Salem, NC - The Triad Scottish Fiddlers and Friends meet monthly at members' homes. We are located in the Winston-Salem, North Carolina area. At each meeting we try to learn a new tune by ear and sight read through some new music. After a time of gabbing and snacking, we jam on some well learned tunes. We have several collections of music we use in our meetings. We welcome anyone who is interested in playing Scottish music. We do not, however, teach you how to play an instrument. Our friends include lap and hammer dulcimers, harps, violas, guitars and whistles players. We have performed at manyevents, from Art in the Park to heritage festivals. Please email one of us for the monthly schedule.Contact: Nora Garver or Debbie Morris

Virginia

The Mid-Atlantic Scottish Fiddlers club (MASF) meets monthly at “The Presbytery of the James”, 3218 Chamberlayne Ave, Richmond, VA 23227. The group is led by 10-time Scottish Fiddle champion Dr. John Turner.Most commonly, our club meets on the last Saturday, but the date changes for holidays and other special events (i.e The Highland Games). We have frequent attendees who come from Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, NC, and Northern VA.2015 SESSION DATES for Mid-Atlantic Scottish Fiddle Club, Presbytery of the James, Richmond, VAJAN 31, FEB 28, MAR 21, APR 25, MAY 23, JUNE 20, JULY 11, AUG 22, SEPT 26, OCT 31, NOV 21, DEC 19.Contact Gary Whaley garaejean@verizon.net

Tennessee

Knoxville Scottish Music Club -Typically meets the fourth Sunday of each month Meetings begin at 2:30 PM. We start off with a learning session in which we slowly go over new tunes. We usually try to learn at least one tune by ear. Sheet music is available for all the tunes. We take a break around 4:00 for refreshments and conversation, and spend the rest of the afternoon playing Scottish tunes both old and new. All instruments are welcome.Contact: David Picken, 865-805-5441 www.knoxvillescottishmusic.org

Scioto Scottish Fiddle Club -Meets the first Sunday of the month during the academic year.The meeting starts by reviewing previously learned tunes then by learning a new tune by ear. Snacks with conversation happen at the break and before the jam session. Music is provided. The goal is to build a common repertoire of tunes that can be played together by the group. Emphasis in on learning the tunes in the Scottish style and arranging for group performance. All instruments are welcome. Music Director: Melinda Crawford Contact: Sandra Utrata

Knoxville Scottish Music Club -Typically meets the fourth Sunday of each month. Meetings begin at 2:30 PM. We start off with a learning session in which we slowly go over new tunes. We usually try to learn at least one tune by ear. Sheet music is availablefor all the tunes. We take a break around 4:00 for refreshments and conversation, and spend the rest of the afternoon playing Scottish tunes both old and new. All instruments are welcome.Contact: David Picken, 865-805-5441 www.knoxvillescottishmusic.org

Texas

SMUSH (a Scottish fiddle/music club - Denton, Texas - Monthly sessions usually on the 3rd Sunday at 2:30PM pm. Other appropriate instruments for a Scottish music session are also invited. Fun, friendly and free session. Please check the website for addition details:http://dentoncelticdancers.org/SMUSH.html

The Scottish Fiddlers of Los Angeles meets monthly in Pasadena at the home of our Director, Jan Tappan. We have one or two concerts in the spring and play at various Highland games and other venues throughout the year. We generally have about 30 members and welcome fiddlers of all levels as well as guitars, cellos, accordions, harps, etc. Dues are $25 per year, due in October. Contact scottishfiddlers@gmail.com. Website: www.scottishfiddlers.org.

Colorado

Caber Feidh Scottish Music Society - Meets third Sunday at 1:30pm. Some 8-10 people, all instruments, have been attending.Donation $2 per session. Pam Nation, Director

The Bend Scottish Fiddlers, Bend, OR -We meet for jams and rehearsals Mondays at 7 pm at Marshall High School and Thursdays at 2 at a private home . We have enjoyed workshops with Alasdair Fraser, and have jammed with the San Francisco Scottish Orchestra. We have played at the Tower Theatre, the High Desert Celtic Festival, and for the High Desert Celtic Society and Sons of Norway, and for various other events and venues through out the year.We welcome anyone interested in learning tunes in the true Scottish tradition. Contact person: Rhonda Huff

Scottish Fiddle Club of Oregon, Portland, OR - Meets 3:30-6:00 the second Sunday of each month, Sept - June. They play for a Scottish country dance in November and have various workshops in the spring. In 2007 they had workshops led by Calum MacKinnon, Linda Danielson, and Hanneke Cassel. Dues are $15/year, due Jan. 1.Contact person: Cynthia Soohoo (Be sure to include the words "fiddle club" in the subject line)

Washington-

Northwest Scottish Fiddlers meet monthly in members' home throughout the greater Seattle area. Check the website calendar for details and exact dates. Meetings generally are on the second Sunday of the month, throughout the school year. Calum MacKinnon serves as the music director, and teaches fiddles, guitars, cellos and basses Scottish tunes and melodies by ear. The club also performs regularly throughout the greater Seattle area. Website:http://www.nwscottishfiddlers.org

The Auckland Scottish Fiddle Clubmeets at 7.30pm on the 2nd Friday of every month except January. Come to St Luke's Church, Remuera Rd, Remuera, Auckland. We start with a slow session, learn a new tune together and then have a faster session after supper. All welcome. Contact Anne-Marie Forsyth learnScotsfiddle@gmail.com

The Scottish Celtic Music Club meets at 7.30pm on the 3rd Friday of every month except January and December. Come to St Luke's Church, Remuera Rd, Remuera, Auckland. The club has put together several books of listening music and dance sets to play together. All welcome. Contact John Hawthorn at john.hawthorn@xtra.co.nz

The Hillsborough Ceilidh Club meets on the last Friday of every month (whether there are 4 or 5 Fridays) except December. Totally family-friendly and fun; all welcome to come and play, dance or even call. We meet at St David in the Fields, Hillsborough Rd, Hillsborough, Auckland. Contact Heather Laird heatherl@xtra.co.nz

Wellington:

The Ceol Alba Scottish Music Club is dedicated to the playing of Scottish music. The group usually meets each month on the fourth Friday, from 7:30in the evening, at Chilton St James School, Lower Hutt. Contact Lynne Scott lynne@scott.gen.nz

Dunedin:

Whatever your level, if you've learnt to play the violin or cello, you can be part of the BIG sound of a Fiddle Club. Whether you can read music (all music is provided) or play by ear, you can learn the jigs, reels, strathspeys and marches and enjoy the massed fiddle experience - there's nothing else like it! Wednesdays, 7:30 - 8:30pm, North East Valley Community Buildings (next to NEV Normal School), Dunedin. Contact Anna Bowen -anna.bowen1@gmail.com - (03) 473-0216